Albion Farm Shop and Cafe

Head to the hills above Oldham to find this food-lover’s gem. Like many proper farm shops, Albion Farm Shop and Cafe began life as a way to sell their own produce. Their beef, lamb and mutton are all reared at the family farms in Castleshaw and Slaithwaite. Add to that eggs from their own chickens, their homemade pies, and homebaked bread, and you’ve already got a larder full of ultra-local produce.

The goodies don’t end there though; Albion brings in some of the best small suppliers from Lancashire, Yorkshire and Wales. Depending on when you go, you might find smoked salmon from Port of Lancaster Smokehouse, small batch Welsh pate, or Yorkshire Barncliffe brie in stock.  Their veg comes from Smithfield Market in Manchester (so it’s not all one-way traffic from the city to the hills).

There’s also a cafe which serves a legendary full English, and they have their own onsite bar, The Turkey Shed, where they host a regular Sunday hog roast and events throughout the year. Look out for their Christmas food and drink festival held annually on the third week of November.